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IN THE DOCK: Student constable at the Dobsonville police station Sipho Mbatha appears in the Johannesburg High Court for the killing of Thato Mokoka in Soweto earlier this year. PHOTO: VATHISWA RUSELO

The heavily pregnant 15-year-old girl, who was with the alleged teenage gangster moments before his death, yesterday told the Johannesburg High Court that she did not see any officer assaulting Mokoka.

On Monday Mokoka's aunt, Mpumi Mokoka, testified that the police had punched him after breaking down his shack door.

She said when he was punched he fell down and crawled out of the door before an officer put a foot on his neck and demanded to know where his illegal gun was.

But yesterday Mokoka's friend, who may not be named after a court order, said she had been the one who opened the door when the police knocked on February 14.

The police had gone there after allegations that Mokoka was a member of a notorious gang in the area and that he was in possession of an illegal firearm.

"There were four of us sitting in Thato's shack when we heard the police knocking at the main house, saying they were looking for Thato.

"The police were aggressive and threatened to assault Thato's grandmother if she did not tell them where he was. She told them to look for him in the shack," she said.

The girl said when the police knocked at the shack they did not open the door immediately since they were scared by the manner in which they were knocking.

She said moments later she was told by Mokoka to open the door.

"They asked us what we were doing in the shack at that time of the night and ordered us to go to our homes."

The teenager said Mokoka went out of the shack with his hands raised and was brought down by one police officer.

Asked if she could point out the officer who had done this, the girl pointed at Sipho Mbatha and said: "That's him."

Mbatha, a student constable at the Dobsonville police station, is accused of shooting Mokoka dead on the night.

The case was postponed to today after the teenager became tired and needed rest.

Comments

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Sat May 18 19:28:10 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 1, 2012

DjEp

I would like to hear from the three clever gentlemen who said to me yesterday i puke rubbish, can they come and comment today! and lets see who has the brains now. Im waiting gents bring it on!
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You cant make a judgement based on one side of the story!
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Aug 1, 2012

Shredder

A heavily pregnant 15 year old? Oh somebody throw me back to the 1980s. How many times are we going to read about these pregnant teenagers?


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Aug 1, 2012

PAPARAZ

DjEP, you were not wrong but your comment was very critical and raising more emotions than answers.

what happens in the case is that the court must hear both side of the stories and that is called audi alterm partem rule (hear the other side of the story).

as you know that a chicken has to make sure that her chicks are protected.


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Aug 1, 2012

SexyCougar

Oh so he thought he is now a full constable...He should be locked up and the key be thrown far far away where nobody can ever find it.

The heavily pregnant 15-year-old girl
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oh please! ke mang a itseng re batla ho tseba.

Aunty jirrr o maka yong, it wasnt necessarily to spice things up i mean the man did a terrible thing by taking the poor guy's life. We talking about a life here. What you said could make things worse and you might end up in jail.Ke SA hierso... hello!
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Aug 2, 2012

Mamelodian

I didn't see the story yesterday. Is there any forensic evidence to suggest assult? Why do we automatically assume that it is the Aunt who is lying? It could be the teenager lying *Don't ask me why she might be lying* She could be traumatised to the point where her memory starts to block things out.
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Aug 2, 2012

DjEp

@Mamelodian
Mamelodian
I didn't see the story yesterday. Is there any forensic evidence to suggest assult? Why do we automatically assume that it is the Aunt who is lying? It could be the teenager lying *Don't ask me why she might be lying* She could be traumatised to the point where her memory starts to block things out.
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You rite u didnt read the story, this started alread on Tuesday so it will be dificult to understand it now. just hang on
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